What do we produce and how we do it?
Santos is a leading oil and gas producer, supplying Australia and Asia.
We produce natural gas (LPG, ethane, methane, CSG, LNG, shale gas, condensate) and oil.
Natural Gas
From power to plastic, Australians benefit from cleaner, reliable natural gas in a wide variety of essential ways.
Natural gas is an abundant Australian energy resource which has been used in our country for more than 100 years. It is a naturally occurring compound made up of mainly methane. Odourless and colourless, it is found in different types of rocks, including sandstones, coal seams and shale.
Natural gas has the lowest carbon intensity among fossil fuels, emitting less carbon dioxide (CO2) per unit of energy generated. It burns cleanly and efficiently, with very few non-carbon emissions.
As Australia looks for ways to reduce our emissions, natural gas will be seen as a ‘transition’ fuel that supports the increasing use of renewable energy.
It is an ideal partner with renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, ensuring enhanced and consistent energy reliability for when the sun does not shine or the wind does not blow.
Oil
Oil is a liquid hydrocarbon formed deep underground from the decomposition of sea organisms such as plankton and algae. Over millions of years, heat and pressure from the changing geology transform this organic matter into oil and gas. The most common name for this is crude oil.
The Santos oil story began in earnest when in 1978 the Cooper Basin well named Strzelecki-3 recorded the biggest onshore oil flow rate in Australian history. Light gravity oil spurted from the hole at a rate of 2,400 barrels per day – easily surpassing the previous best flow from the Cooper Basin of 1,500 barrels per day from the Tirrawarra-2. On the heels of Strzelecki-3 came Dullingari-4, then Dullingari North-1 which spudded in August 1979.
What is Condensate?
While crude oil is a naturally occurring liquid made up of mainly hydrocarbons from organic matter, condensate is a mixture of liquid of pentane and heavier hydrocarbons which are associated with natural gas and usually found in gas fields. It is a gas that condenses to form a liquid when brought from the subsurface reservoir to the surface.*
Crude oil and condensate are used in aviation fuel, vehicle fuel and petrochemicals. By-products from oil refining are used in the production of plastics and chemicals, as well as many lubricants, waxes, tars and asphalts.
*Source: Geoscience Australia.
Learn more about Natural Gas
It is a naturally occurring compound made up of mainly methane. Odourless and colourless, it is found in different types of rocks, including sandstones, coal seams and shale.
Liquefied petroleum gas is a mixture of light hydrocarbons derived from oil-bearing strata which is gaseous at normal temperatures but which has been liquefied by refrigeration or pressure to store or transport it. Generally, LPG comprises mainly propane and butane.
Ethane is a hydrocarbon compound that exists in nature as an odorless and colorless gas at standard temperature and pressure. It is the second main constituent of natural gas after methane.
Coal Seam Gas is predominantly methane gas stored within coal deposits or seams.
Is the main ingredient of natural gas and can be found both in coal seams and sandstone and shale layers. It is naturally occurring formed over millions of years through the decomposition and compression of prehistoric animal and plant matter.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been liquefied by refrigeration to store or transport it. Generally, LNG comprises mainly methane.
Is a natural gas found in hard, dense underground rocks called shale (in the past shale was called slate). Shale gas is odourless, colourless and generally is comprised mostly of methane.
A natural gas liquid that occurs in association with natural gas and is mainly composed of pentane and heavier hydrocarbon fractions.
GLNG – Journey of natural gas
Sanctioned in 2011, GLNG involves the long-term development of natural gas resources in Queensland.
A 420-kilometre underground gas transmission pipeline to Gladstone and two LNG trains with a combined nameplate capacity of 7.8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) on Curtis Island.